Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he *said, “you shall hear him.”

So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

Festus *said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer.

Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write.

Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

“In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today;

“So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision,

King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.”

Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”

And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”